John Holland will soon begin laying tracks on the 24km-long Sydney Metro West line.
Some 5,316 tonnes of rail will progressively be lowered 27m into the future Sydney Olympic Park Metro station box, as the project moves into the fit-out stage after tunnelling was completed earlier this year.
Precision lifting is required to manoeuvre the 4,376 individual pieces of steel, each 20m in length, from the surface to the floor of the station box.
From there 20 skilled workers will spend the next three months welding the rail together which will progressively be moved into the tunnels using a specialised road-rail vehicle excavator. Work on the structural track base slab will commence after this and be followed by the electrical and mechanical fit-out by the end of the year.
Across the entire project, 60km of track will be installed in the twin tunnels and the Clyde Stabling and Maintenance Facility featuring four crossovers, one junction, and one turnback.
Due for completion in 2032, Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.
Minister for transport John Graham said Metro West’s rapid east-west transport would transform life in Sydney.
“Most of this work happens underground so it’s not always front of mind for everyone, but there is an incredible amount of city shaping infrastructure being built in these tunnels,” he said.
“The arrival of the first rail is a major step forward for Sydney Metro West which we’re delivering alongside Western Sydney Airport Metro and Southwest Metro.”
